Oct 20, 2025

Real World Skills for Creatives: Going In-House

ADELEKE ALADEKOBA, Tara Kerner RGD, BC Government, Amelia Nash RGD, School of Visual Arts — Masters in Branding, Crystal Carter RGD and Mairin Deery RGD, hannahHR | Freelance/Fractional

ADELEKE ALADEKOBA

Weedo Creative Company

Adeleke is a Certified Senior Designer (RGD) and Creative Consultant at Weedo Creative Company, a Calgary-based creative solutions provider renowned for its innovative approach to business and personal transformation. Specializing in creative consulting, Adeleke excels at guiding clients to "see more than meets the eye," helping them navigate beyond limitations to unlock hidden potential through strategic, thought-provoking interactions. His expertise spans graphic design, videography, photography, ideas generation, brand development, corporate identity design, digital and social media solutions, and printing/publishing.

Tara Kerner RGD

BC Government

Tara Kerner is Director of GCPE Graphic Communications, an in-house professional design department (within the BC Government) with intimate knowledge of branding-related processes, intellectual property, and policies. Responsibilities involve ongoing projects of graphic design support for both GCPE and ministries, as well as managing: the B.C. Visual Identity (BCID) program; the Provincial Brand Architecture; brand development and consultation; signage programs; legal support and approvals; advising on industry standards; accessibility projects; and much more. She has been working in the profession of graphic design since 2000 and has been working in GCPE Graphic Communications since 2005. Tara is a Certified Design Professional (CDP) with the Design Professionals of Canada (DesCan) and a Certified Professional Member (RGD) with the Registered Graphic Designers. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, fishing, foraging, beekeeping, drawing, and hanging out with her partner and their dachshunds.

Amelia Nash RGD

School of Visual Arts — Masters in Branding

Amelia Nash is a Canadian-born designer, brand strategist, and creative director based in New York City. With over 15 years of experience, she builds bold, sustainable brands that inspire, educate, and connect, pairing creativity with data-driven insight to turn ideas into memorable visual narratives. She is Director of Operations for the School of Visual Arts' Masters in Branding program and a Senior Staff Writer at PRINT Magazine, where she covers branding, culture and design. A certified RGD member, she serves as Secretary on its Board of Directors and co-chairs its Education Committee. She also sits on the AIGA NY Board of Directors, empowering designers through its Education Workgroup. Amelia's work has been recognized with multiple accolades, including the prestigious Best in Show for Best Visual Appeal - Aesthetics at the 2024 w3 Awards. Her dedication to open, equitable design practices and her passion for collaboration drive her to uncover the extraordinary in every detail. Beyond her professional endeavours, Amelia’s boundless curiosity fuels her fascination with a myriad of things, from seeking the perfect gin and tonic to immersing herself in colour swatches and finding inspiration in the intricate details of the world around her, including being a proud pet mama to her Flemish Giant rabbit, Kona. To explore her latest articles, visit PRINT Magazine. For more about her work and to connect, visit her website.

Crystal Carter RGD

Crystal Carter is an independent creative director, designer and educator with two decades of experience building brands, launching campaigns and knowing exactly when to break the grid. Equal parts strategist and spellcaster, she creates work that connects with people and delivers on business goals. Her portfolio includes work for Frank’s RedHot, Old Bay, Cholula, McCormick, Western University, Scotch-Brite and Post-it. Beyond client work, Crystal shares her experience through teaching, speaking and writing, helping other designers develop their skills and find their own point of view. She is a type-obsessed design nerd, em-dash enthusiast and incorrigible film fan.

Mairin Deery RGD

hannahHR | Freelance/Fractional

With an education in film and video production and communication design, I have 15 years of industry experience working with large corporate teams through non-profit organizations to execute values-aligned design and communications. I collaborate with large and small teams to create visually captivating and impactful work as unique as the organizations they represent. Consistent messaging is crucial across every platform and function, from internal and external communications to UX/UI design to web and social media. With a strong focus on brand values and storytelling, and a deep commitment to design principles, I consistently deliver innovative solutions across a wide range of projects and media.

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Real World Skills for Creatives: Going In-House

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